With the Fire on High: List 4

She’s going to take photographs of a new mural in Port Richmond this afternoon, and there’s a thrift store there that offers cash for secondhand clothes.

Aunt Sarah is my email auntie, the strongest connection to my mother, my kitchen confidante, but she’s never sent money before, never organized that side of the family to send me a gift.

Auntie Jordyn looks up at him with a gruff expression. “Boy, what did I tell you about pointing at people? Just because your momma isn’t here doesn’t mean you forget what she’s taught you!”

“And this little one, well, isn’t she precious? I’m glad these tickets could go to good use. With my kids out the house so long, my complimentary tickets usually go unused. I’m glad this year someone who can actually appreciate it will be watching.”

Chivalry
Auntie Jordyn lets us out through a side door, which means we avoid the rush.

Angelica gives me exactly three seconds to reconsider before she grabs Laura’s hand and flounces, literally flounces, away with Laura laughing behind her.

The guard is new, and I know he doesn’t know me or my circumstances because all he can do is remind me of the same tired rules.

I’m frantic to get my baby in my arms but I bite out some politeness.

Mrs. Palmer’s brown suede coat sways over her heavyset frame as she undoes all the buckles that hold Babygirl safe in the car.

She clears her throat and gives a brisk nod.

“Well, I certainly won’t be dropping work every time you and your grandmother are too negligent to take care of Emma. I know you and Tyrone have an informal arrangement, and I would be remiss if I didn’t say that so far it seems to be working for you two, but you best believe that if he ever chooses to challenge that arrangement in court, I will ensure this incident is put on the record.”

“Well, I certainly won’t be dropping work every time you and your grandmother are too negligent to take care of Emma. I know you and Tyrone have an informal arrangement, and I would be remiss if I didn’t say that so far it seems to be working for you two, but you best believe that if he ever chooses to challenge that arrangement in court, I will ensure this incident is put on the record.”

“Well, I certainly won’t be dropping work every time you and your grandmother are too negligent to take care of Emma. I know you and Tyrone have an informal arrangement, and I would be remiss if I didn’t say that so far it seems to be working for you two, but you best believe that if he ever chooses to challenge that arrangement in court, I will ensure this incident is put on the record.”

The door snaps open and ’Buela bustles in with her cheeks pink from the cold and mouth red as if she’d been rubbing it.

Angelica has me open an elaborately wrapped box, and inside is a really pretty wrap dress that she found at the thrift store and said made her think of me.

’Buela and I have been quietly tiptoeing around each other since the day Babygirl came home sick, but the holiday throws open the curtains and lets light diminish, or at least hide, the remnants of our awkward conversation.

’Buela and I have been quietly tiptoeing around each other since the day Babygirl came home sick, but the holiday throws open the curtains and lets light diminish, or at least hide, the remnants of our awkward conversation.

On New Year’s Eve I send Aunt Sarah a picture of her black-eyed peas recipe. I simmered them in a compote of purple grapes, which is not a part of Aunt Sarah’s original recipe, but ‘Buela says eating grapes at midnight means good fortune for the new year, and in her notes, Aunt Sarah said the same for black-eyed peas.

It’s my first day back at school after the break, and during Culinary Arts, Chef Ayden gives us our final itinerary for the trip.

“I hope you aren’t going to ask me for another favor. I already make too many concessions for you as it is...”

I step closer to his desk and keep an equal balance of calmness and perkiness, although what I really feel is irritated I have to grovel at all.

I step closer to his desk and keep an equal balance of calmness and perkiness, although what I really feel is irritated I have to grovel at all.

“You’re a nice man, Steve. So kind. I’m going to tell my grandmother to pray for you.” And I hope he can see in my face that I just sprinkled the juju of a spiteful Puerto Rican grandmother all over his life.

Her stitches, slow as they are, are still precise as ever. And she says even though it was her dominant hand that got stuck in the machine, she’s thankful it wasn’t the hand with her wedding band that’s all scarred up.

I know she’ll raise an eyebrow when she sees I had some, but she won’t reprimand me; growing up, she was allowed to drink from the time she was fourteen and she finds the alcohol rules on the mainland excessive.

’Buela peers into my suitcase. “And you put all your hair product in Ziploc baggies? The worst thing would be if they spill all over your clothes.”
I can imagine several worse things, but I nod dutifully.

“Okay, group. These people will be the host families you will stay with this week. In the morning we’ll meet back here for different tours, you will return to your host family for lunch and siesta, and in the afternoon you will each serve as a chef’s apprentice for one of the eateries in the area. Any questions?”

The upstairs is nice and airy with a small kitchen and living room.

Although I would never let Babygirl skip brushing her teeth, I want to be asleep too badly to worry about my oral hygiene tonight.

Chef Ayden clears his throat with that rumble of his. “Okay. Now that everyone has met the chefs, I will tell you who you will be apprenticing with this week. I took into account your strengths and inclinations and paired you with someone you can not only be a help to, but also learn from...."

“My family hails from Morocco,” Chef Amadí says.

“Chef Ayden says you have something special. An ‘affinity with the things that come from the dirt,’ he says. A master of spices. And coming from Ayden that means a lot. He doesn’t usually believe in natural inclinations. Only in working hard enough to make the hard work seem effortless. Is it true about you?”

From what your teacher tells me, not many of you have had exposure to world cuisines.

"...You’ve probably mixed spices together no one told you would go together. Cut a vegetable in a certain way that you believe will render it more flavorful. You know things that no one has taught you, sí?”

Only five or six tables, and she says usually only twenty to thirty patrons show up on a regular afternoon.